Central Coast shopping centre gutted by fire

A devastated fire has ripped through a shopping complex in Erina on the NSW Central Coast, destroying five stores.

The ferocious blaze took just seconds to engulf the entire shopping centre last night, as it spread from roof to roof.

NSW Fire and Rescue’s Mark McKay said firefighters battled the blaze for more than an hour before getting it under control.

“The fire was spreading quickly through the common roof space, luckily we were able to gain access and cut it off,” he said.

But by that point, five shops had been gutted.

The Good Guys appliance shop was left intact but the adjacent LJ Hooker, The Gadget Doctor, Pack and Send, Elite Health Supplements and Ambience Hairdressers were all totally destroyed.

Police are still investigating but have not ruled out arson.